And the Oscar Goes to... (1946) Quiz

Answer: James Stewart

As this was the first Academy Awards ceremony following World War II, it was fitting that Bob Hope (1903-2003) - known for his USO tours - would continue to host the Oscars, bringing his wit and charm to the job. Co-hosting this year was James Stewart (1908-97), who brought the elegance and gravitas of an established Hollywood star as the counterfoil to Hope.

At this point in his career, Stewart had already received two nominations for Best Actor - for 1939's "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and 1940's "The Philadelphia Story" - he won the latter.

Answer: Ray Milland

Ray Milland (1907-86) was born Alfred Reginald Jones in Neath, Glamorgan, Wales. Before entering the world of acting, he served in the British Army, where he became a skilled marksman, horseman, and pilot. After leaving the military, Milland began appearing in British films in the late 1920s, with his first major role in "The Flying Scotsman" (1929). His early success led to a contract with MGM and a move to Hollywood, where he initially worked in minor roles before signing with Paramount Pictures in 1934.

Milland's career flourished at Paramount, where he became one of the studio's most bankable stars. He appeared in a wide range of films, but his portrayal in "The Lost Weekend" marked a turning point, showcasing his dramatic range and earning critical acclaim. Later in his career, Milland starred in Alfred Hitchcock's "Dial M for Murder" (1954) and transitioned into directing and television roles. He remained active in the industry until shortly before his death in 1986.

In "The Lost Weekend" (1945), Ray Milland played the lead role of Don Birnam, a struggling alcoholic writer who spirals through a desperate four-day drinking binge. As he struggles with addiction, the film explores his emotional turmoil, strained relationships, and the devastating impact of denial. His performance not only earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor, but also the Best Actor prize at the Cannes Film Festival and a Golden Globe Award.

Answer: Johnny Nolan

James Dunn (1901-67) was born in New York City and raised in New Rochelle. The son of a stockbroker, Dunn initially worked in his father's firm but was drawn to acting from a young age. He began his career in vaudeville and stock theater companies, eventually landing a role in the Broadway musical "Sweet Adeline" in 1929. This led to a Hollywood contract with Fox Film, and his screen debut in "Bad Girl" (1931), which made him an overnight star. Throughout the early 1930s, Dunn was a popular leading man, but his star declined in the late 1930s due to personal struggles, including alcoholism. By the early 1940s, he was relegated to minor roles and largely out of the spotlight.

Dunn's casting in "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" (1945) was a comeback, showcasing his dramatic depth and earning him critical acclaim. But despite the Oscar win for Best Supporting Actor, his career did not fully recover. He later found work in television, and continued acting until the mid-1960s, passing away in 1967 following abdominal surgery.

In "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", Dunn portrayed Johnny Nolan, a charming but troubled alcoholic father in a struggling Irish-American family. The film was directed by Elia Kazan in his dramatic film debut, and was adapted from Betty Smith's 1943 novel of the same name.

Answer: Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford (1908-77), born Lucille Fay LeSueur, began her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical troupes before transitioning to Broadway musicals and eventually Hollywood films. Signed by MGM in 1925, she rose to fame in the 1930s playing ambitious, working-class women in "rags-to-riches" stories that resonated with Depression-era audiences. Though her popularity waned by the early 1940s, Crawford made a major comeback with "Mildred Pierce" (1945), which was her first starring role for Warner Bros.

In "Mildred Pierce", Crawford plays a determined mother who rises from waitress to successful businesswoman, all while trying to win the love and approval of her selfish daughter, Veda. The film blends melodrama and film noir, with flashbacks revealing the emotional and financial sacrifices Mildred makes. Her Academy Award for Best Actress for this role would be the only Oscar win of her career.

Answer: National Velvet

Anne Revere (1903-1990) was an American actress known for her powerful portrayals of maternal figures in both stage and film. Born in New York City (and a direct descendant of Paul Revere), she studied at Wellesley College before training in acting at the American Laboratory Theatre. Her career began on Broadway in the early 1930s, and she transitioned to film with "Double Door" (1934). Revere became a respected character actress, earning three Academy Award nominations, but only winning for "National Velvet" (1944). Her career was interrupted in the 1950s when she was blacklisted for refusing to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee.

In "National Velvet", Revere plays Mrs. Brown, the wise and quietly supportive mother of Velvet (Elizabeth Taylor), a young girl determined to race her horse in England's Grand National. Mrs. Brown, herself a former swimmer with dreams of glory, encourages Velvet's ambition while offering calm guidance through the challenges of competition and growing up.

Answer: Sylvester the Cat

As an individual animated 'actor', Sylvester (the Cat) is the most successful Oscar-winning Looney Tunes character! He didn't win on his first nomination at the 18th Academy Awards, but did go on to claim Oscars for "Tweetie Pie" (1947), "Speedy Gonzales" (1955), and "Birds Anonymous" (1957).

Officially named Sylvester J. Pussycat Sr., Sylvester was created by Friz Freleng (1905-95) and originally voiced by Mel Blanc (1908-89).

Answer: French and German

Richard Schweizer (1899-1965) was a Swiss screenwriter and director whose career spanned over three decades. Born in Zurich, he began his artistic journey as a stage-builder and theater painter before moving into journalism and eventually screenwriting. His early film work in Switzerland began in the late 1930s, and he became known for crafting emotionally resonant stories rooted in human experience. Schweizer earned international recognition with "Marie-Louise" (1944), which became the first foreign-language film to win an Academy Award in a regular category.

In "Marie-Louise", Schweizer tells the story of a young French girl evacuated to Switzerland during World War II. Traumatized by the war and separated from her family, Marie-Louise struggles to adjust to life with her Swiss foster family, forming deep emotional bonds that complicate her eventual return home. The film was praised for its sensitive portrayal of wartime displacement and psychological healing.

Answer: The Lost Weekend

Charles Brackett (1892-1969) and Billy Wilder (1906-2002) had worked together on numerous films before striking Oscars gold with their adaptation of "The Lost Weekend". Some of their collaborations included "Ninotchka" (1939), "Hold Back the Dawn" (1941), and (later) "Sunset Boulevard" (1950), as they would go on to make 13 films together.

As noted previously in this quiz, Charles R. Jackson's novel, "The Lost Weekend" tells the story of Don Birnam, a writer whose struggle with alcoholism leads him through a harrowing four-day binge. The screenplay, written by Brackett and Wilder (who also directed the film), captures the psychological depth of addiction and the emotional toll it takes on both Birnam and those around him.

Answer: False

Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) was nominated five times for Best Director during his career, with the psychological thriller "Spellbound" (1945) the middle of the set. He did not win any of them.

Rather, Billy Wilder received the Oscar for Best Director for "The Lost Weekend", skillfully guiding Ray Milland in his portrayal of a man's gradual and painful descent into alcoholism. Wilder's directing career spanned genres and decades, earning acclaim for films like "Double Indemnity" (1944), "Sunset Boulevard" (1950), and "The Apartment" (1960), blending sharp dialogue with emotional depth. His work on "The Lost Weekend" (1945) won him his first Oscar for Best Director, showcasing his ability to tackle serious themes with realism and sensitivity.

Wilder remains one of the most awarded and influential directors in Hollywood history, with six nominations and two wins at the Oscars for directing, out of 21 total nominations and seven wins (including his writing and adaptations).

Answer: The Lost Weekend

Charles Brackett accepted the Academy Award for Best Picture for "The Lost Weekend" (1945), produced by Paramount Pictures. Directed by Billy Wilder and co-written by Brackett and Wilder, the film explores the devastating effects of alcoholism through the story of Don Birnam, a writer caught in a downward spiral. The film won four Oscars (of seven nominations), including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay, and remains a landmark in Hollywood's portrayal of addiction.

Of note, the feat of claiming both the Oscar for Best Picture and the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film (later changed to the Palme d'Or) at Cannes is an extremely rare occurrence. "The Lost Weekend" was the first to do so, with subsequent films including "Marty" (1955), "Parasite" (2019), and "Anora" (2024).